She blinked up at me. “That was a dangerous statement to make.”
I shrugged. “I’d prefer you to know how things are than to be frightened you have no will, no say at all in this situation.”
Her hand reached up to cup mine. “The way you make me feel when you touch me… that takes my will away.”
“No. You can fight it. You can leave.”
“But I’d never feel anything like this, would I?”
Again, I shook my head. “Never. What you feel is something that was deigned by deities with more power than you or I will ever understand. Even Apollo finds himself at the vagaries of the Fates. Even he, as powerful as he is, with as many gifts at his fingertips as he has, is under their control.”
Her eyes were stark. “That’s pretty terrifying. I looked him up online.”
That had me snickering. “You did, huh?”
She nodded. All wide-eyed and trembling mouth. I wanted so badly to kiss her then, to cement the ties between us, and to make her realize what she would be walking away from if she did leave. But I didn’t. There was a reason she’d come to me to speak on this matter.
In the two days that she’d known of us, I was the one who appeared the calmest, the most rational, and she had faith in that. I wasn’t about to destroy that for her.
Everyone needed a safe haven, and I was more than willing to be one for her.
“What did you see? The God of the Plague and the God of Healing. A double-edged sword. Let me see, God of the Sun too, music and arts and poetry… He has a lot of power.”
“It matched up with what he showed me.”
“He is the God of Truth and Prophecy for a reason, agapití. He cannot lie when he touches you and reveals something to you.”
“I’m not sure if that’s not even more terrifying than what I initially thought.”
“You should find comfort in it. There is no wondering if he is giving you falsehoods. There is a security in it, even.”
I watched her mull over that. “That thing with Daphne happened before you were his guardian, right?”
“Yes. It was a sad time though. Daphne was popular. His sister, Artemis, never forgave him either. She followed Artemis’s ways—that of the hunt and modesty. A true maiden. That was why Eros selected her. Her path was never to love another male, and he amplified that. Made it so she loathed Apollo while Apollo adored the very ground she walked on.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. “She killed herself to evade him.”
I gave her another nod. “Do you think that’s fair to say though?”
“What do you mean?”
“Who was to blame? The man behind the trick or the man being tricked?”
She gnawed on her bottom lip and I wanted to have the right to tug it free, to soothe the small ache with the pad of my thumb. But I couldn’t. Not yet.
“Is that what is holding you back?”
She shook her head. “No. It’s just everything is so messed up, and half the time, I’m not sure if I’m going nuts or not.”
“You’re not,” I told her firmly. “And if you had been, Apollo cured you already.”
I was amused when she snickered at that. “Good to know, Tor.”
With a wink, I assured her, “I’m not one for bullshit, Ella. You can always come to me with questions.” Then, I hesitated, “You’re very isolated.”
She shrugged. “No choice but to be. All of Cindy’s friends tried when I was in the hospital, but…”
“But what?”
“I didn’t know them, and they were all stupid.”
I snickered. “All of them?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. They were more interested in their nails and the next purse they were going to buy than anything else. I just felt isolated when I was with them, and I didn’t jump into the fray to take part so they kind of gave up on me.”
“I’m surprised she had many remaining. After the mess with her father, as you can imagine, the family lost a lot of friends.”
She winced. “And I just lost some more.” A hard breath escaped her. “The only person I connected with was a nurse at the hospital.”
“Yeah?”
“She gave me her number before I left too.”
“Have you spoken with her since?”
“No.”
“Maybe you should.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. “Why? It’s not like I can talk to her about any of this.”
I shrugged. “No, but maybe that’s the issue. You don’t speak with any of the other patients here—I know because Achilles and my brother checked.” She huffed. “We were just trying to understand who you are to us, Ella. You have to see that you’re just as much of an anomaly to us as we are to you.”
“I-I guess.” She blinked, evidently taken aback by the truth and the wisdom in my words.
I gave into temptation and reached up to brush my thumb over her bottom lip. “We want you for the link, that is a certainty, but there is more. You are a stranger to us, and we want to change that. The link is the catalyst. It’s something we can have faith in, but for something lasting to grow? We need more. Just as you do.”
She swallowed. “I-I never thought of it that way.”
“Well, now you can.”
❖
Pollux
It was wrong to eavesdrop. I knew that, but it didn’t stop me from doing it. Just like it hadn’t stopped Ella.
A grin curved my lips as I thought about her listening to Achilles and me getting down and dirty in the stables.
I was only here, listening in, because she’d requested use of the phone at the main desk in the foyer. Patients weren’t allowed access to their cellphones during their stay here. It was to ensure that the retreat could control the information they read.
The papers were here every day, and it wasn’t like the patients couldn’t keep up with national and international events, but removing social media from their lives was the main intent.
As such, phone calls were also limited. They could call whomever they wanted whenever they wanted, but they had to ask first.
I’d been heading down to the stables to catch up with Tor who’d been practically glued to Thor’s stall since the other morning, to see if he wanted to work out together in the boxing ring, when I’d come to an abrupt halt on the mezzanine floor.
The foyer was a large circle. It had a central staircase that sprung out into the west and east wings, and all around it, there was curved furniture that aligned itself to the walls. White puffy shit that, I had to admit, was damn comfortable.
I’d stilled on the way down toward the arterial staircase, aware that she’d hush up if she caught sight of me.
When I heard her ask Jenny at the desk for the key to the phone room, I stayed still and waited to hear the soft padding of her footsteps as she made off with her request.
Jogging down the steps the second I heard the door to the phone room open, I smiled at Jenny who blushed—that was just her way. She’d been working here for nearly six years, and we all still made her turn pinker than a Georgia peach—and headed for the phone room.
I was well aware it was wrong to listen in to private conversations, but I was curious. Having read the file Achilles had on all his patients, ones that included the classes they attended, the counselors who gained good responses from them, as well as things like who they called—names and numbers—along with shit like their dietary tastes, I’d swiftly learned that Ella hadn’t called anyone since she’d been brought here. Not even her mother, which wasn’t surprising now that we knew why, but it was of great concern to the counselors.
So, who the hell was she calling now?
There was a hesitance to her tone when she spoke, “Hey? Farrah?”
I cocked a brow at the hesitance, then had a semblance of an explanation when she stated, “It’s really good to hear your voice. I-I’m sorry I haven’t kept in touch.”
It was really handy that she switched to spe
aker then. I could hear, but it stopped me from straining my ears.
“—worries. It’s great to hear from you too. How are you doing at Achill? I looked into that place the moment you told me that was where your mom was taking you. I heard nothing but great feedback from everyone who knew of it. And when I say everyone I mean, like, four people.” The other woman laughed. “That place is beyond exclusive. I don’t know whether I should be jealous or not.”
Ella laughed, but it sounded forced. “It’s pretty, I guess. We’re close to the ocean, and the sunsets are great.”
“That’s all you have to say? What about Owen Delaney?”
“Owen, who?” Ella asked, then mumbled, “Oh… Yeah. Owen.” She cleared her throat, and I had to smile because she was obviously getting used to thinking of Achilles as Achilles. Not Owen. We always had that same problem when we had to reincarnate ourselves into another identity.
Humans’ short lives were a serious pain in the ass when you lived as long as we did.
“Yeah. Owen,” Farrah stated. “Is he as cute as they say he is?”
Ella snickered. “I guess. Cute is a bit understated though, to be fair.”
“Why?”
“Kittens and puppies are cute. He’s like a handsome Doberman.”
Farrah burst out laughing, and hell, I couldn’t blame her. Just wait until I told Chill that he was a ‘handsome Doberman.’
“You know what I mean,” Ella grunted, sounding flustered now.
“No. Not really. But to be honest, it fits. That guy is definitely no puppy. Did you hear about his injuries?”
“No. What injuries?”
I winced. Shit. Achilles didn’t like anyone knowing about those. Not only because he was a proud pain in the ass, but also because those injuries didn’t exactly stay in place for long—about as long as it took Pol to get to his side.
That wasn’t always easy when Chill was hospitalized in some godforsaken part of the world, though.
“He almost lost his leg two years ago.”
“Two years ago?” Ella’s voice was a squeak.
“Yeah. Far as I know, it was a surgical miracle that he didn’t lose it entirely.”
“Why was he so badly injured?”
“He was in the service.”
“Was?”
“Yeah. He left after that. Too badly injured.”
And hadn’t Chill been pissed off about that. Christ, my ass had been sore for weeks after he’d been returned for his own ‘safety.’ Technically, he had another thirty years until he could reenlist under this current name, and reenlist he would. He always did. The man was a soldier through and through.
Me? I liked to fight, but war sucked nowadays. There was no honor in the passing of bullets. Not in my mind, anyway. Nothing could beat the one-on-one battle that came with a sword. Each fight could be the last either man ever saw.
War had started going to shit back during the Napoleonic era.
Chill had been mumbling about changing his identity sooner than usual so he could enlist once more, but I hoped Ella’s presence in our life would stall that.
“And he started this place after he got back from overseas?” Ella asked.
“No. Achill was already established. I think he created it with his father or something. It’s been around for a while.”
Ella cleared her throat. “Oh. That’s kind of cool. Family legacy.”
“Yeah. I guess. Anyway, I just wanted to make sure you were in good hands, and you’re in exclusive ones,” the other woman teased. “So, how are you doing? Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m feeling better, that’s for sure. I’ve been having some headaches lately but nothing worse than that.”
Farrah hummed. “Well, talk to your doctor if they don’t stop.”
“Yes, nurse,” Ella joked.
“Sorry. Force of habit.”
“No, it’s okay.” I heard Ella blow out a sigh. “I’m just irritable.”
“Why?”
“There are some guys here…”
Farrah laughed. “Aren’t they everywhere?”
“Well, guys like these aren’t.”
“Hot, huh?”
“Smoking.”
“They got you on edge? Damn, I think I’d pay to see that. You didn’t even react when Dr. Andrews came into your ward, and he’s the finest piece of tail we have in the hospital.”
Ella giggled, and I thought I’d lose my damn mind. Ella was not the sort to giggle, and yet that was the second time I’d heard her do it. Would wonders never cease? “He just didn’t do anything for me.”
“I know. We all did. I think even he did. It took him aback. I swear it.”
“What do you mean?” Ella peppered.
“I mean he’s used to being drooled over, and when you didn’t, he was shocked.”
“Did he start flexing his pecs? Doing the salsa with his biceps?”
Farrah burst out into another round of laughter. “I don’t think so, although I’d pay to see him do that. The man is stacked.”
Ella made a barfing sound. “No way.”
“Yes, way.”
Snickering, she murmured, “What do I do about my problem?”
“Can’t you just do them? Or is there a rule against it there? No fraternizing between the patients?”
Ella coughed. “They’re not exactly patients.”
Silence fell at her comment, and I had to withhold the urge to laugh. “They’re all staff?”
“Well, technically, I guess.”
“What kind of technicalities are we talking about here?” Farrah demanded, clearly wanting more of the juicy details.
I couldn’t stop myself from opening the door and walking in. Ella’s eyes were wide as they caught mine before they narrowed with anger.
“What technicalities?” I mocked in a low voice, one that Farrah wouldn’t be able to hear.
Ella cleared her throat. “Farrah? Someone’s knocking at the door. I’ll call you another time, yeah?”
“I’d really like that. You sound so much brighter than the last time I saw you. Please, keep in touch. I’m so glad you called.” Her tone was genuine, enough for me to realize that Farrah truly cared for Ella.
“Thanks, Farrah. That means a lot. Speak later.” She cut the call then hissed at me, “Were you listening in on my private conversation?”
I grinned at her, totally unashamed. “Yup. I figure I have at least two more rounds of eavesdropping until I catch up with you listening in on Achilles and me.”
She huffed. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“Nope,” I replied cheerfully, folding my arms across my chest as I did. “And never is a seriously long time where we’re concerned.”
She groaned and raised her hands to cover her face. As she did, I took a second to look around. There was a table in the center of the room, topped by a large bunch of flowers. Eight chairs surrounded it, and then in the corners of the room, some armchairs faced the wall to give a semblance of privacy.
Ella had taken one of those sections, and I wondered how hard it was for her to be here, in this place, where privacy was a commodity. Even though we’d tried to make each bedroom personal, and the common areas as well, some people never felt at home. Ella was one of those people, and I guess that figured.
There was nothing wrong with her. Nothing that a rest wouldn’t cure, at any rate. Her counselors all seemed to agree that she was quiet and reserved, but we knew now that her major problem was trying to reconcile the woman she was today with the woman she’d been before.
I grabbed one of the chairs around the table and dragged it over to her side. Taking a seat, I bent over and pressed my elbows to my knees as I asked, “You doing okay, ó chrýsion?”
She frowned at me. “I was trying to have a normal conversation with someone that wasn’t immortal until somebody interrupted.”
That had me smirking. “My bad. Who was she?”
“A nurse at th
e hospital where I was cared for.”
I nodded. “What made you call her?”
She shrugged. “She gave me her cell number before I left. We got along really well.”
Studying her, I couldn’t stop myself from reaching up and touching her face, running my fingers down her jaw. She shivered, and although I felt the tingles that sparked to life the instant we connected, I didn’t let my body respond, and managed to contain it to a single flutter of my eyelids.
Her fingers came up to cup my wrist, but she didn’t stop me from touching her, didn’t pull my hand away, she just kept hers clasped there, as though needing to touch me in return.
I bit the inside of my cheek as more tingles flushed through me now that we were touching each other. I didn’t look at her though. Just looked at her skin, the flawless cream that was growing pink under my caress.
Stroking the curve of her jaw with my thumb, I murmured, “You need never be alone again, Ella.”
I didn’t have to take note of her scowl in my peripheral vision. I felt the tension swim inside her and knew she wanted to argue but couldn’t.
She swallowed, and the movement was thick. “I feel like I know all four of you, but that’s an illusion.”
“No. It’s what Apollo showed you. But, that means you’ve only learned about us from his perspective.” I smiled at her. “That’s just one facet. He and Achilles don’t get along. You’ll never learn what you need about him from anyone other than the man himself.”
“Y-You sleep with him.”
It wasn’t an accusation. “So?” I frowned at her.
“Well, surely you’re close?”
I grimaced, understanding what she meant. “We’re not chicks, Ella. I mean, we scratch an itch with each other.”
She hummed. “It did sound angry.”
A laugh escaped me. “It did, huh?”
“Yeah. Like a hate fuck.”
“Wouldn’t go that far. We get along well together.” I winked at her. “Metaphorically speaking.”
Though she smirked at me, her eyes were serious. “Was he really hurt? Like what Farrah said?”
The Sun Revolves Around Apollo (The Gods Are Back In Town Book 2) Page 12
